Pressure on Coveney as department unveils €54m cuts in spending

Compensation for farmers exiting REPS remains a priority for the scheme’s members, as the Department of Agriculture unveiled €54m in likely budget savings.

The Department of Finance has set 2014 reduction targets for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of €28.5m in current expenditure and €25.5m on capital expenditure.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told yesterday’s Oireachtas joint committee on agriculture, food and the marine, that his department’s savings target was lower than last year, but added that there were still some “complex discussions” to be had in terms of the sector’s approach to the strategic challenges it is facing.